Reports from Italian users about strange, apparently foreign phone calls with the telephone prefix +34i.e. that of Spain: almost every day the telephone rings for thousands of people with that international prefix but it is best not to give in to the temptation to answer because it is a new fraud.
What can happen
Experts explain that, in reality, that phone call does not come from the Iberian continent but uses a VoIP numbering (which travels on the Internet) so as to try to avoid any investigations by the police when complaints for fraud are forwarded. In this way, attackers try to steal sensitive data with the technique vishingmore commonly called phishing vowel, “who uses the telephone as a tool to steal personal data – especially of a banking nature or linked to credit cards – and then steal more or less large sums of money”, the Privacy Guarantor explains very clearly.
How the scam happens
The rule does not even escape the novelty of the “+34” prefix: after the initial phone call, the victims are deluded that on the other side there is a banking operator who, with the excuse of “anomalies”, asks to carry out totally false procedures which they are only valid to be able to obtain credit card numbers, debit cards and so on. Very often beyond the handset there is not a physical operator but a recorded voice which asks to move the conversation on WhatsApp after saving the number: this is also where the scam can occur, especially if you are asked to click on links that redirect to fraudulent pages. “This scheme, if not recognized, can lead to identity theft or significant financial losses. Know how this scam works and adopt preventive strategies is essential to protect you and your data”, adds the Guarantor.
Other cases involve sending a text message (sms) with a confirmation code which must be read aloud by the victim: it is at that moment that the fraudsters can access current accounts and transfer money if they had obtained the debit and credit card details shortly before.
How to defend yourself
Underlining that your bank will never ask for sensitive data by telephone, the two most immediate and safe procedures concern first of all the no response telephone: immediately afterwards, in modern smartphones it is possible block that number in such a way that we are sure he will not call back. Unfortunately it will never be enough because these scams occur with hundreds of different telephone codes, so it is likely that you may be contacted again.
Other options concern i anti-spam filters which can be activated: in this way you will not have problems if the telephone number in question is not already saved in the address book but you can also download ad hoc apps that recognize and report the fraudulent call in good time.